Tuesday 17 March

I've been asked to look after the blog again, first day and nearly forgot! I was out goose counting today, gorgeous day and nearly warm, spring is definitely in the air - skylark were singing and there were several large flocks of them including 94 on the reserve. Over the moorland I saw hen harrier displaying. Overhead at lunchtime, 23 whooper swan were high up flying north. On Nave Island there was a count of 17 lesser black back gulls, 5 greater black back, 14 herring gull, 2 common gull, 2cormorant, 3 shag, and one fulmar. Near the old lobster ponds at Ardnave I had 36 sanderling and 7 grey plover. (Mary)